Pete Doherty, co-frontman of the Libertines, Gary Glitter are among several notable inmates who have been locked up at HMP Wandsworth, a Category B men’s prison in the capital
The prison in which rapist Russell Brand is caged had dilapidated cells, scurrying rats and problems with the hot water, a damning report had said.
Inspectors were concerned with several aspects of the Category B men’s prison HMP Wandsworth, which is in southwest London, following their last visit. They issued bosses an immediate action plan to improve standards at the slammer, home to more than 1,500 lags.
Brand, 51, is one of them for now after his rape and sexual assaults convictions — though, after his sentencing on Monday, he may be transferred to another prison. He was remanded into custody at HMP Wandsworth on Thursday, since which former inmates have described the horrors of the prison which opened in 1851.
Their stories reflect the damning report after the inspection in April and May 2024. The document, seen by the Mirror today, reads: “Overall living conditions were poor. Levels of overcrowding were high, with 80% of prisoners sharing cells designed for one. The prison was dirty. Many showers were in poor condition across the prison, and some should have been decommissioned. There were frequent issues with heating and hot water.
“Numerous cells had damaged furniture, flooring, windows or sinks. Many observation panels were blocked or smashed. Vermin remained a problem in the prison. Recent intensive work with an outside provider had seen some improvement, but prisoners told us that rodents were still seen frequently, and we found evidence of rat droppings across residential units.”
Other concerns expressed in the report included outcomes for prisoners as time outside of cells was described as poor. Inmates were given a survey, results of which showed one third said that they felt unsafe at the time of inspection. Some 69% said they had felt unsafe at some point.
The watchdog, the HM Inspectorate of Prisons, gave the clink opportunity to present an action plan. It published a document in August that year, addressing the concerns and outlining ways in which it had challenging them. These measures were put in place less than one year after lag Daniel Khalife, now 25, absconded from HMP Wandsworth and sparked a huge manhunt.
But the prison bosses said, in its action plan, the governor and teams at the Ministry of Justice had taken steps to work on 15 primary concerns following the inspection, which happened unannounced. In response to the concern around the condition of the prison cells, the plan, seen by the Mirror, reads: “A full cell audit has been completed in June 2024 and shortfalls in furniture have been identified and orders placed to replenish identified shortfalls. HMP Wandsworth will ensure that there is a robust cell inventory process introduced, including a new governance and assurance process implemented across the Residential function.
“Cell readiness processes will be introduced on the first night centre so that prisoners have access to the equipment they need to set the standard of expectations across the function. As part of the residential assurance processes, managers and the functional team will conduct weekly and monthly checks.”
It adds: “The prison will ensure there is improved reporting of damaged cells and ensuring Governor & Government, Facilities, Services, Limited (GFSL) are held accountable on progress through the daily operational morning meeting and the monthly Tripartite meeting which are chaired by the Governor, this will include all issues with infrastructure.
“A full review of infrastructure will be conducted with MOJ Property partners to identify priority areas where financial investment is required. A programme of shower repair works will be implemented across the prison which will address the tiling, doors and paintprior to the full refurbishment. The prison is utilising those prisoners who are trained in Industrial cleaning to focus on the worst areas across residence. HMP Wandsworth has had approval for a £13m shower refurbishment project. Whilst still at the design and survey stage, once completed MOJ Projects will seek financial approval from HMPPS Assurance board.”
There hasn’t been a watchdog inspection since the 2024 one, but former inmates have expressed their concern at the clink in recent days. Three-time Wimbledon champ Boris Becker survived being locked up with murderers, one of whom threatened to kill him. The star said that he was a “nobody” in Wandsworth jail after he was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in 2022, after being found guilty of hiding £2.5million in assets to avoid paying debts after being declared bankrupt.
He said: “I was immediately confronted with a reality that I had no experience with. It was dangerous. I tried not to look anyone in the eye and stay in my corner.
“Wandsworth is really big, really dirty, extremely dangerous, there are murderers, paedophiles, drug dealers, you meet everyone. It’s about surviving. You go out of your cell and you need to save your skin, the guards won’t do it for you.”
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: mirror.co.uk
